1. Alabama’s Biodiversity
Alabama leads the nation in freshwater biodiversity
Alabama has the 5th most diversity overall in the nation
Unfortunately, Alabama is 2nd in the number of taxa lost to extinction (Hawaii is #1)
Alabama is 4th in number of at-risk taxa

2. Alabama Wildlife Species Status
Extirpated/Conservation Action Underway
Priority 1/Highest Conservation Status –
Priority 2/High Conservation Status –
Priority 3/Moderate Conservation Status –
Priority 4/Low Conservation Concern –
Priority 5/Lowest Conservation Concern –

3. Biodiversity Rankings
Risk
Endemism
Extinction 1
California
Hawaii 2
Texas
Alabama 3
Arizona
Nevada 4
New Mexico
Florida 5
Utah
Georgia

4. Rank by Organism 1 2 3 4 5 Rank Plants Mammals Birds Reptiles
Amphibians
Fishes 1
California
Texas
North Carolina
Alabama 2
New Mexico
Arizona
Georgia
Tennessee 3
Virginia 4
Oregon
Florida
Kentucky 5
Mississippi
Citation:
Bruce A. Stein States of the Union: Ranking
Biodiversity. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe.

6. Alabama Wildlife Species Status
Extinct – taxa that historically occurred in Alabama, but are no longer alive anywhere within their former distribution
Extirpated – taxa that historically occurred in Alabama, but are no now absent; may be rediscovered in the state, or be reintroduced from populations existing outside the state

7. Reasons for Alabama’s Biodiversity

8. Reasons for Alabama’s Biodiversity

9. Alabama River Drainages
Tennessee River Drainage
Mobile River Drainage
Gulf of Mexico Drainage
- Pascagoula River (Escatawpa)
- Florida Panhandle rivers (Perdido to Choctawhatchee
- Appalachicola River (Chipola & Chattahoochee

10. Physiographic Provinces

11. Reasons for Alabma’s Biodiversity

12. Reasons for Alabama’s Biodiversity

13. Reasons Why Alabama’s Biodiversity is Imperiled
Dams

14. Reasons Why Alabama’s Biodiversity is Imperiled
Turkey Creek
Jefferson Co., AL
Sedimentation

15. Reasons Why Alabama’s Biodiversity is Imperiled
Pollution
Unnamed tributary to Turkey Creek
Jefferson Co., AL

16. Reasons Why Alabama’s Biodiversity is Imperiled
Habitat alteration and destruction
Environmental Contaminants
Invasive Species
Disease
Exploitation

17. Cave Crayfish – Orconectes austalis

20. Noturus munitus

21. Alabama Cave Shrimp
Palaemonias alabamae

22. Alabama Cave Shrimp Distribution

24. Hering Cave

26. Hering Cave

27. Alabama Cavefish
Speoplatyrhinus poulsoni

28. Typhlichthys subterraneus
Speoplatyrhinus poulsoni

33. Palaemonias sp cf. alabamae
Palaemonae sp. cf. alabamae
Tuscumbia Cave Shrimp
Palaemonias sp cf. alabamae

34. Alabama Cave Shrimp
Palaemonias alabamae
Tuscumbia Cave Shrimp
Palaemonias sp cf. alabamae

36. Hering Cave

37. Limrock Blowing Cave

38. Cave Crayfish – Orconectes australis